- Betsy Bloomingdale
Betsy Bloomingdale (born Betty Lee Newling on
August 2 1926 ) is an internationally knownsocialite . She is the widow ofAlfred S. Bloomingdale , and is close friends with former First LadyNancy Reagan .Bloomingdale grew up as the daughter of a socially-prominent
Los Angeles ,California family, and holds the namesake of the United States department store outletBloomingdale's , as her husband was the chain's heir. [cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9216285|title=Alfred S. Bloomingdale Biography (1916–82)|publisher=Biography.com|accessdate=2008-01-01] She is a frequent party host, many for charity, being dubbed "Good Queen Betts". [cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,925785,00.html|title=Was it for Love or Money?|date=1982-10-04|accessdate=2008-01-01|publisher="Time"]Mrs. Bloomingdale is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, currently residing in
Holmby Hills . ARoman Catholic , she was involved infundraising projects for the Los Angeles Cathedral. She also contributed to the funding for the development of theRonald Reagan Presidential Library .Bloomingdale's life and marriage and her husband's well-publicized affair were the basis of Dominick Dunne's novel An Inconvenient Woman. However, Bloomingdale remains friendly with Dunne, appearing with him at the annual Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2006. Other friends have included Joan Collins and East Coast socialite Nan Kempner.
In 2007, Bloomingdale took part in presenting fashion designer
James Galanos with theRodeo Drive Style Award, [cite web |url=http://www.mctdirect.com/visuals/preview.htm?doc=KRT%2Fkrtabacaphotoslive%2Fdocs%2F311%2F496|title=Designer James Galanos Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Induction Ceremony and Plaque Unveiling|accessdate= 2007-10-20|publisher= "McClathy Tribune"| date = October 18, 2007] and attended the opening of "Nancy Reagan: A First Lady's Style", an exhibit chronicling Nancy Reagan's different clothing at the Reagan Presidential Library. [cite web|url=http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?navtyp=CLB&str=361&styp=clbi&nm=Betsy%20Bloomingdale&nbc1=1|title=Betsy Bloomingdale|date=2007-11-10|accessdate=2008-01-02|publisher=WireImage.com]Footnotes
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